OUT-of-towners dominated the adult singing classes at the second and final week of Colne's Luther Greenwood Memorial Festival.

The only Pendle borough trophy winner was baritone Bill Ormerod -- and he lives in neighbouring Nelson.

Bill, a supporter of the event for many years, captured the John Crabtree Trophy for the best competitor in the Pendle parliamentary division after taking second place in the Rose Bowl baritone solo competition.

Unlike last week's thriving music, speech and drama classes, which attracted high entries from all over the north, the adult music classes are suffering decline.

Secretary Muriel Waite says the date clash with Freckleton Festival could have been a factor on entries being down on last year.

But she says the decline has gone on for a long period, comparing this year's 25 entrants at the Municipal Hall with the scores who used to compete for awards in years past.

Although last week's support from young competitors showed the festival is very much alive and kicking, the 53-year-old event remains under threat unless new blood can be found to help run it. Many of the chief officers are now in their seventies and Mrs Waite has announced that she will retire at the next annual meeting.

Allan Watson, entries secretary for 42 years, said at the festival on Saturday: "Unless we can do something to attract new people very quickly our days are numbered."

The solo classes at the weekend were well represented but coughs and colds depleted the Rose Bowl classes. The standard of the finals, however, proved well worthy of the prestigious nature of the festival.

Three choirs, Colne Ladies, Hyndburn Singers and and Stoneclough Singers brought the event to a thrilling finale.

Full results in today's Lancashire Evening Telegraph